Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 02/08/2018

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likelihood of soil contamination or abandoned wells, including the likelihood of contaminated groundwater aquifers. The findings of the site assessments should be included in the grant request submitted to the Council. The cost of the Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment is eligible for reimbursement as an acquisition cost. Prior to the Council determining whether the contaminated land, including lands with abandoned wells, should be part of the regional park or trail corridor, the Council will make findings of fact regarding the following factors: • The likelihood and extent of the contamination • Whether the land is essential to make the regional park or trail function as intended according to a Council -approved master plan and the existence of a reasonable alternative to relocate the park or trail facilities elsewhere • Whether responsible parties have been identified who will remediate the site • Whether the estimated costs to clean up the contamination or cap the abandoned well(s) outweigh the need versus the recreational, economic and social benefits the regional park or trail would provide If the Council concludes that the land should be added to the Regional Parks System, this does not imply that the Council will use Regional Parks System funds to clean up the site or cap abandoned wells. Regional Parks System funds will only be used for contaminated soil cleanup or capping abandoned wells if the four preceding conditions have been met. System Protection - Strategy 5: Telecommunication towers will only be allowed in regional parks or reserves if there is no alternative site and if mitigation efforts are made to minimize the impact on Regional Parks System lands and users. The growth in cellular telephone, personal communication system (PCS) telephone business and implementation of the Metropolitan Emergency Radio System has resulted in requests that Regional Parks System land be leased for antennae towers or that towers be located near Regional Parks System lands. Each of these radio frequency communication systems relies on a grid placement of towers. Co -location of antennae on fewer towers is not always possible, however, because the size of a particular grid varies from one system to another. In addition, co -location of antennas on one tower may not be possible if it causes frequency interference between the antennas. Federal laws allow local governments to regulate the placement of towers as long as there is no ban preventing reasonable market access for that communication system. Antennae towers for telecommunication services and the Metropolitan Emergency Radio System are generally prohibited on lands within the Council -approved master plan boundaries of a Regional Parks System unit unless: • The communication system is not able to function without placement of the tower on Regional Parks System land. All other alternatives must be considered for placement within the grid in order to avoid placing any tower on Regional Parks System land. The communication service